So I've been fiddling with the mixture on the SU carburettors and I've managed to lean them out a bit more. However, my gas milage has been dropping slightly even with this. Do Canadian gas companies go with a "winter blend" like the US companies do and does this reduce gas milage?

Maybe it's that thicker oil you're using now. A little more engine drag. At least until it gets really hot, which I don't think will happen in the weather we've been having. I've been trying something over the past year and have noticed a significant increase in fuel milage. It's the Lucas Fuel conditioner/upper cylinder lubricant. It's supposed to help lubricate compression rings and valves while decarbonizing as well. Seems to be doing an awesome job. When we blew the headgasket one race weekend and had to pull the head, there was no buildup of carbon or gunk. Also, I seem to be able to get about roughly a 1/4 more distance out of a tank of gas from when I use it to not using it. That's just from my experience. Give it a try!

I'm game, lunch at Fenders works for me. Rob should be better by then, I think I almost killed the poor guy by dragging him out Sunday, he caught a nasty flu! Now about that prarie block heater, how big does the wood pile need to be ?

Hey, jason.
Well, you said it! A big ass block heater. Plug it in anywhere and anytime you want a faster warmup. I had one on my B 210 in Ontario, and when I turned the key on, the gauge was already reading slightly. It started way better and the choke was on less. I've had the in-line and the ones that fit in the frost plug hole. The in-line are easier to install, but, loose some heat pushing the hot water up the heater hoses. One or more of the in block type can be installed on the passenger side. Just plug them in or set a timer, for a hour before you get up, and like the coffee pot, it's ready when you are.

"Nissan 'shit the bed' when they made these, plain and simple." McShagger510 on flattop SUs

Ouch! Hurts more if you say it's an 18% drop! That brand new '76 B 210 would turn over exactly 3 times when it was treal cold. I had been useing 40W oil, just like I used in all my previous N AM V8 cars. Switched to 10W for the winters, (much better)but the block heater made the most difference.

"Nissan 'shit the bed' when they made these, plain and simple." McShagger510 on flattop SUs

Painful isn't it! I'm running the 20W50 so I can minimize the oil burning for my aircare. That's why I'm also leaning out the carbs a bit at a time right now. I'll do a plug check tommorrow when it's supposed to stop raining for the day so I can see if I'm on track or not. I will probably change out the oil if I pass aircare to straight 20W50 without the Lucas though for the regular service!

Plug reading eh? I was doing some reading too... there was an article about SU tuning for proper mixture, and it describes a special sparkplug with a quartz 'window' so you could look inside the combustion chamber. The proper mixture was evidenced by a bluish flash when the plug fired.
Have you read this?

Last edited by datzenmike on 18 Nov 2006 10:47, edited 1 time in total.

"Nissan 'shit the bed' when they made these, plain and simple." McShagger510 on flattop SUs

I think Princess auto sells those gadgets Mike, I use a Unisyn for vacuum balancing the SU's and I've been running rich idle for the last couple of months. Of course it ran OK, but, had an irritating low RPM stumble. So, I leaned out the carbs a bit and rebalanced and lo, it runs much better. Of course my milage sucks now, but, hey, I need to pass aircare which is why I'm fiddling now, I'm due next month so if all goes well I'll go and get checked at month end and see....

Well, here's reviving an old post. Looks like the stations have switched to the higher ethanol "winter blend" for us lower mainlanders again ... I've had a nice, fat 7% drop in fuel economy in the last 2 tanks of gas and it's the right time of year for it ... The buggers !